LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 









isix 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE BLESSED COxMPANY 



OF ALL 



FAITHFUL PEOPLE. 



THE 



BLESSED COMPANY 



OF ALL 



FAITHFUL PEOPLE. 

BY 

HARRIET McEVVEN KIMBALL. 






^jVo.Jk^AA./^^ 



O/ 1879. ^.<^4 



NEW YORK: 
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH & CO. 

900 Broadway, Corner 20th Street. 

^/ nil' 



^ 



^\ 



^^ 



Copyright, 1879, 
By Harriet McEwen Kimball. 



University Press: 
John Wilson & Son, Cambridge. 



CONTENTS. 



» 

PAGE 

The Blessed Company 7 

O Spotless Lamb ! H 

The Divine Purpose 17 

A Hymn of Adoration 19 

"Thou art a place to hide me in " 22 

"No ONE taketh your peace away" 23 

The Cross 26 

Hymn for Advent 28 

Advent Song of the Faithful 30 

Evening Hymn of Praise 33 

"Christ is born of Blessed Mary" 35 

"Hark! eastward and westward the message is 

winging" 38 

Christmas Meditation » 41 

The Way of Thorns 44 

A Battle Cry 47 



VI CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

Holy Mysteries 49 

"Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast 

out" 52 

The Night of Faith 54 

"Lord, that I might receive my sight" 56 

A Hymn of Contrition 58 

Jesus, my Refuge 60 

The Blessed Task 62 

The Light of Light 64 

Vale 66 





THE BLESSED COMPANY OF ALL 
FAITHFUL PEOPLE." 



rii^' 



ETWEEN the gray dawn and the golden day 
Methought low murmurs troubled all the land ; 
Disquietude and strife where should be peace, 
In the white tents of that sweet Prince of Peace 
Whose hosts encamp amidst " a naughty world." 
As swelled the murmurs, under all I heard 
The sighing of the leaders, men of prayer, 
Steadfast in faith though sometimes faint of voice, 
Worn with the heat and burden of the day, 
And the half-hearted zeal of many a rank ; 
And harsh above their siirhin^s louder rose 



The sounds of party and opposing speech ; 



8 ''THE BLESSED COMPANY OF 

And louder yet the petty-tongued complaints 

Of such as had not learned obedience — 

That first, last law for these rebellious hearts, 

Given of God and taught of Holy Church. 

Anon, and piercing all the clamor through, 

The Lord's own heralds blew their bugle-notes — 

For He would set the faithful in array. 

Then sudden silence made a little space 

For the One Voice that fills the Universe, 

And Christ's own roll-call swept the white camp through. 

And lo ! the faithful noiseless moved as thought ; 

Responsive, yet unconscious of response. 

Their rapt eyes lifted to the shining morn 

As seeing Him who is invisible ! 

He named them clan by clan, His chosen ones ; 

The poor in spirit and the souls that mourn. 

The meek and those for righteousness athirst, 

The merciful, the pure in heart, the just. 

The valiant, the forbearing, named He thus ; 



ALL FAITHFUL PEOPLE:' 

For every clan a benediction sweet 

And sweeter promises of victory — thus : 

Blessed are the poor, 

(Jesus spake,) 

Poor in spirit, for My sake ; 

Who seek the glory of this world no more, 

Nor gather riches that shall fly away : 

Of the Heavenly Kingdom heirs are they. 

Blessed, 

Blessed they who mourn, He said ; 

Precious are the tears they shed, 

The ashes on the bowed head ; 

All their sins confessed, 

They shall be comforted. 

Blessed are the meek 
Who seek 



10 ''THE BLESSED COMPANY OF 

The Father's will in quietness and peace, 

Caring little for all things beside ; 

They shall increase 

And with the fulness of the earth be satisfied. 

Blessed they, He said, 

After righteousness an-hungered ; 

Blessed they whose thirst 

The pleasures of this world accurst 

Have not stilled ; 

With My bread 

Shall the famishe'd be fed ; 

With My wine the parche'd lips be filled. 

Blessed, blessed they. 

The merciful, whose ears 

Are swift to hear the crying of distress ; 

Soft as the rain in summer fall their tears, 

Their place is found beside the fatherless ; 



ALL FAITHFUL PEOPLE:' H 

Yea, 

Blessed they 

To whom the outcast and the poor complain 

Not in vain ; 

Mercies numberless 

They hereafter shall obtain. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, He said ; 

Whose feet the paths of holiness do tread, 

Whose looks are God-ward and whose hands are clean ; 

Through glories manifold 

Shall they behold 

Him whom no eye hath seen. 

Blessed they who seek 

To turn all strife to peace ; 

Whose words are as a covert to the weak, 

Who make the anger of the strong to cease ; 



12 ''THE BLESSED COMPANY OF 

Children of God shall they 
Be called for aye. 

Blessed they who steadfast stand 

Through persecutions dread ; 

Though on every hand 

The wicked bend the bow 

To lay them low ; 

Theirs the Kingdom never vanquished. 

Blessed ye when men revile 

And persecute you falsely, for My sake; 

Ye who, walking without guile, 

With Me partake 

Shame and scorn awhile. 

Yea, rejoice. 

Ye who fly not from the arrows of the strong ; 

Be exceeding glad, for unto you is given 



ALL FAITHFUL PEOPLE:' 13 

Great reward in Heaven ; 
Even now lift up your voice 
In victorious song ; 
For so persecuted they 
The Prophets in their day : 
Again, rejoice. 

Then all the winds of Heaven : Ame7i ! Amen ! 




14 O SPOTLESS LAMB! 



O SPOTLESS LAMB! 







^il HOUGH all I have is Thine 
And Thine is all I am, 
How poor, how vile a gift is mine 
To Thee, O Spotless Lamb ! 

For all I have is dross, 

And guilt is all I am, 
And all I gain I count as loss 

For Thee, O Spotless Lamb ! 

What is my life but death — 

So dead in heart I am ! 
Oh, for one living, living breath 

Like Thine, O Spotless Lamb ! 



O SPOTLESS LAMB! 15 

Descend, Thou Holy Dove, 

Brood o'er me as I am, # 

That I may draw that breath of love — 

Thy love, O Spotless Lamb ! 

For me Thy blood was shed, 

All worthless though I am ; 
In that pure stream from foot to head 

I '11 wash, O Spotless Lamb ! 

Made clean in that dear tide, 

Fit even for Thee I am ; 
My heart of hearts thus purified 

x'^.ccept, O Spotless Lamb ! 

And when beyond earth's sight 

With Thy redeemed I am, 
In realms whose one supernal light 

Thou art, O Spotless Lamb ! — 



l6 O SPOTLESS LAMB! 

When with thy joy and peace 
^ Pure-clad and crowned I am, 

How shall I sing, nor ever cease, 
Thy love, O Spotless Lamb ! 




THE DIVINE PURPOSE. 



17 




THE DIVINE PURPOSE. 

S springs that feed our lives unseen, 
And keep their daily pastures green, 
All-gracious Lord, Thy mercies flow; 
Before we ask, Thou dost bestow. 

And thus with gifts as well as grace, 
Thou winnest us to seek Thy Face, 
And kneeling low Thy care to own. 
And make our dearest wishes known. 



No voice of prayer to Thee can rise. 
But swift as light Thy Love replies ; 
Not always what we ask, indeed. 
But, O Most Kind ! what most we need. 



1 8 THE DIVINE PURPOSE. 

When we beseech the good that might, 
Because of self, some sweet hope blight, 
Some holy impulse turn astray. 
Thy tender Purpose answers. Nay. 

For bread may nourish less than stone. 
If eaten thankless, or alone ; 
And many a pure, desired thing 
Might prove a snare or hide a sting. 

But Thou, O Saviour pitiful, 
Who seest us so blind and dull, 
Constrainest us with mercies still 
To seek alone Thy Holy Will. 

Oh, soon or late how sweet to learn, 
It is that Will for which we yearn ; 
When yielding to its sway Divine, 
We have no wish apart from Thine ! 



A HYMN OF ADORATION. 



19 



A HYMN OF ADORATION. 




ESUS, Jesus, Jesus, 

High and Lowly Son ; 
Son of Blessed Mary 
And of God in One ! 
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Hail, O Son ! 



Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Living Bread Divine, 

Feast for holy hunger. 
Be that hunger mine ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Bread Divine ! 



20 A HYMN OF ADORATION. 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Fount forever filled. 

In thy streams of Mercy 
Shall my thirst be stilled ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Fount once filled ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

Spotless Lamb once slain, 

Yet for us unceasing 
Offered again ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Lamb once slain ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

Victim, Priest, and Lord; 

Endless satisfaction. 
Endlessly adored ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 
Saviour, Lord ! 



A HYMN OF ADORATION. 21 

Jesus, Jesns, Jesus, 

Name of names most sweet ! 
Tremble with thanksgiving, 

Tongue that may repeat : — 
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

Name most sweet ! 

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

God of God art thou ! 
Low in adoration 

At thy name we bow. 
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, 

God art thou ! 

Father, Son, and Spirit, 

Blessed Three in One, 
Whose unending praises 

Never were begun ! 
Holy, Holy, Holy, 

Three in One ! 



22 " THOU ART A PLACE TO HIDE ME INP 



"THOU ART A PLACE TO HIDE ME IN.' 



^ITHOUT, I hear the beating of the rain, 
^18 The howling winds that tell the storm's in- 
crease ; 
O covert sure that he who seeks may gain ! — 
Within, abideth peace. 

Without, I hear the sound of feet that halt 
And grope and stumble in the blinding night ; 

O blessed faith that serveth in default 
Of what men call the light ! 

O rest, O w^ayside inn, where home is not. 

For the poor pilgrim to that City fair, 
Where strife shall cease and doubtings be forgot ! 

The Lamb, the Light is there ! 



NO ONE TAKETH YOUR PEACE AWAYP 23 



NO ONE TAKETH YOUR PEACE AWAY.' 




HE long week's close : how sweet and clear 
The curfew greets the tired world's ear ! 
" In sleep by night and in rest by day, 
Peace be yours ! " it seems to say. 

Then folds the world its countless hands ; 
Unlieeded slide the drowsy sands 
This last sweet night of the rounded seven, 
Falling noiselessly out of heaven. 

In depths of more celestial blue, 
The sacred morn unfolds anew, 
As if to yield to the weary breast 
Balm of beauty as well as rest. 



24 ''NO ONE TAKETH YOUR PEACE AWAY!' 

How hushed ! the silence-quickened ear 
Turned heavenward can ahnost hear 
The white cloud trail, and the arrow of light 
Earthward speeding in golden flight. 

And over all, compassionate, 
A tender Presence seems to wait, — 
Beyond the cloud, beyond the light, 
Beckoning upward from height to height. 

" In sleep by night and in rest by day, 
May peace be yours," did the curfew say 1 
" I, only, can give you peace ! " replies 
A Voice that thrilleth the boundless skies. 

Lord Jesus, turn us from the noise 
Of endless strivings and empty joys, 
To find forever Thy one true peace — 
Rest 'from sorrow, from sin release ! 



''NO ONE TAKETH YOUR PEACE AWAVy 2$ 

Then will each morn of the week-day year 
The Lord's Day morning mirror clear ; 
And every night will the curfew say, ' 

" No one taketh your peace away.'* 




26 THE CROSS. 



THE CROSS. 



"God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus 
Christ." 



j^^^rl HOLY Cross whereon my Saviour died, 
kllv/TT) Tliy sacred wood I press ; 

Thou wert His shame ; thou art the only pride 
I cherish or possess ! 



^^M 



Not all the treasure of the crystal seas, 

Or virgin lands unrolled, 
No wealth of friends, or fame, or royal ease, 

Could win from thee my hold. 

The Blood of Christ bedews thee, holy tree ; 

His Arms thy arms outspread ; 
He gave thy matchless shade a roof to be 

For my "defenceless head." 



THE CROSS. 27 

I hear thee whisper still with patient sigh 

The sev^en last words He spake ; 
Still art thou shaken by the bitter Cry 

Wherewith His Heart did break. 

No tongue of earth though tuned to Heaven could reach 

Thy eloquence divine ; 
Thy very silence is supremest speech, 

And tells me He is mine. 

For love of Him I hold thee in embrace 

Till life and death be past, 
And lifted up, I may behold the Face 

Of Christ, my King, at last. 




28 



HYMN FOR ADVENT, 



HYMN FOR ADVENT. 




REATHE, virgin souls, anew the vows 
Your Heavenly Bridegroom claims ! 
His sign 3'e wear upon your brows 
Traced in baptismal flames. 



Oh, by that sweet and awful sign 

He calls you to be wise ; 
Earth's glory wanes, the suns decline, 

And midniMit wins the skies. 



Arise, love's holy lamps to trim, 
With faith their flame renew, 

Lest He Who cometh find them dim 
And sleep possessing you. 



HYMN FOR ADVENT. 29 

He cometh — when ? Who answereth when ? 

Who names His Nameless Day ? 
The word He spake He speaks again, 

Yet neither Yea, nor Nay. 

Watch ! Watch ! His solemn charge alone : 

And every beat of Time 
Repeats in awe's unchanging tone 

The Lord's own w^ord sublime. 

Blest Watch ! or long the hours or brief; 

The Bridegroom shall appear. 
To hearts wherein His love is chief, 

Even now He draweth near. 



f 



30 ADVENT SONG OF THE FAITHFUL. 



ADVENT SONG OF THE FATrHFUL. 



^r5%^|EARY ? Nay ; not wearv vet ! 



0i He will come! 

Promising, can he forget ! 
Oh, He will come ! 
Counting not the days or years, 
Watch we till our Lord appears. 

Everywhere we know is strife; — 

He will come ! — 
Angry clash of life with life ; 

But He will come ! 
He whose Kingdom is of Peace — 
Peace must conquer, hate must cease. 



ADVENT SONG OF THE FAITHFUL. 3 1 

Powers must tremble ; swords must fail ; 

He will come ! 
Then can hell itself prevail 

When He is come ? 
Darkness reigns, but He is Light — 
He who shall all darkness smite. 

In His love our lives we hide — 

He will come ! — 
By His promises abide, 

For He will come. 
Our inheritance is sure — 
Marvel ye that we endure ? 

Watch ye all beneath the sun ; 

He will come ! 
Winning what ye ne'er have won 

When He shall come ; 



32 ADVENT SONG OF THE FAITHFUL. 

Better things than life hath brought ; 
Greater things than time hath wrought. 

Life and time will fleet away ; 

He will come ! 
Then your " Nay " must still be " Nay," 

When He is come ! 
Till that Day He intercedes ; 
Still as on His Cross He pleads. 

Watch ; and if the hours seem long 

Till He come, 
Sing with us faith's perfect song : 

" Lord Jesus, come ! " 
Sweet, oh, sweet the time if we, 
Watching, faithful grow as He ! 




EVENING HYMN OF PRAISE. 33 




EVENING HYMN OF PRAISE. 

WEET Jesu ! through the hours of light, 
For every deadly sin restrained, 
For dangers past, for comfort gained, 
Praise, praise to Thy all-tender might ! 

Amen. 

Sweet Jesu ! through the hours of night 
Thy watch of grace and mercy keep ! 
Thou slumberest not, albeit we sleep — 

Praise, praise to Thy all-tender might ! 

Amen. 

Sweet Jesu ! though our sins affright 

And fill with shame the sorrowing breast, 
3 



34 EVENING HYMN OF PRAISE. 

In Thee we pardon find and rest — 
Praise, praise to Thy all-tender might ! 

Amen. 

Sweet Jesu ! whea the world is bright 
And when 'tis dark alike be near, 
Our stay of peace, our staff of cheer — 

Praise, praise to Thy all-tender might ! 

Amen. 

Sweet Jesu ! Thine by day and night, 
In joy or grief, in life, in death. 
Fill Thou with praise our every breath — 

Praise, praise to Thy all-tender might ! 

Amen. 





CHRISTMAS CAROLS. 



CHRISTMAS CAROLS. 
I. 

" Christ is born of Blessed Mary," 

HRIST is born of Blessed Mary ! 
Sing the wondrous Life begun ! 
Man Divine and God Incarnate ! 
Israel, lo ! thy Holy One ! 
Now fulfilled the Prophet's vision \ 

See the Child, the Lord of all, 

Stript, indeed, of Heavenly splendor, 

Choosing for His couch a stall. 

Hail, Messiah, hail ! 
All hail ! 

Thou, O Israel's God and Saviour, 
Verily Thyself dost hide ; 



36 CHRISTMAS CAROLS. 

Clad in flesh, disguised in weakness, 

All Thou hast by earth supplied. 
Very God from everlasting 

As a helpless Babe revealed, 
Mary's breast Thy transient pillow, 
Mary's arms Thy only shield ! 

Hail, Emanuel, hail ! 
All hail ! 

Wonderful, the Seer proclaimed Thee, 

Mighty God, and Prince of Peace, 
King whose everlasting Kingdom 

Shall forevermore increase ! 
Yet no royal sign or title 

Could Thy boundless grace declare 
Like that Name of endless sweetness 

Thou for us alone dost bear. 

Hail ! O Jesus, hail ! 
All hail ! 



CHRISTMAS CAROLS. IJ 

Jesus ! — Saviour of His People ! 

Jesus ! — Shepherd of His Flock ! 
Well of Life, and Hidden Manna ; 

Wayside Strength, and Tower of Rock ! 
Jesus, see Thy Church adoring 

Prostrate at Thine Infant Feet, 
Her Redeemer's praise outpouring 

In that Name of Names most sweet ! 

Hail, O Jesus, hail 1 
All hail ! 




38 CHRISTMAS CAROLS. 



II. 

" Hark ! eastward and westward the message is winsjin?." 




ARK ! eastward and westward the message is 
winging ; 
The Promised of ages, Messiah, is born ! 
Oh, haste, let us find Him ! All Heaven is singing ; 
The choirs angelic proclaiming the morn ! 
Alleluia ! prolong 
The wonderful song : 

Glory to God in the Highest ! 

Where sleeps He in purple, surrounded with splendor, 
This King out of Heaven forsaking His Throne ? 

The Virgin, His Mother, what monarchs attend her, 
To whom the Almighty such favor hath sown ? 
Alleluia! etc. 



CHRISTMAS C^IROLS. 39 

Can this be His dwelling ? His cradle, this manger? 

Can this be His Mother, this Maiden so meek ? 
Comes He to His own in this guise of a stranger 

Unsheltered and friendless — the Prince whom we 
seek ? 

Alleluia ! etc. 



Behold where He lieth, in Bethlehem hidden ! 

The Son of the Highest, most lowly His birth ! 
And no one to welcome or serve Plim is bidden 

Who counteth as dust all the pomp of the earth. 
Alleluia! etc. 

Oh ! vast condescension ! Almighty, Eternal, 
He stoops to the lowest by seraphs adored ; 

And, One with His Father in glory supernal, 
Our flesh He hath taken and hath not abhorred ! 
Alleluia ! etc. 



40 CHRISTMAS CAROLS. 

His name is called Jesus. Yes, Thou art our Jesus, 
Sweet Babe whose appearing the angels proclaim ! 
From sin and from death Thou art come to release us 
Thou bearest for us that Adorable Name ! 
Alleluia ! prolong 
The wonderful song : 

Glory to God in the Highest ! 




A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION. 4 1 



A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION. 






O poor, so humble, in such solitude, 
f\. Amid the lowing of the patient kine, 
So barely sheltered in this stable rude 
We find Thee, Babe Divine ! 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 



Here born of Virgin Mother, spotless Maid, 
Who folds Thee to her rapt, adoring breast, 

Thou art content obscurely to be laid, 
By the proud world unguessed ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 

Though hosts seraphic gird Thy Throne on high, 
No earthly throngs Thy Holy Birth attend ; 



42 A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION. 

No shouts of joy, though praises fill the sky, 
Earth's bitter silence rend ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 

As with the darkness of Thy natal night 
Thou veilest all the glory of Thy Face, 

Thou who art God of God and Light of Light, 
The fount of joy and grace ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 

This want, this loneliness, this manger-bed, 
That hint the story of Thy coming woe. 

When Thou wilt have nowhere to lay Thy head, 
Thou wiliest even so ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 

And while our eyes a gathering shadow see — 
The shadow of Thy Cross — upon Thee fall, 

Thine own are fixed upon our Crown to be. 
And naught can Thee appall ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 



A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION. 43 

O matchless love ! that Very God should take 
Our flesh, that we might share the Life Divine ! 

Our, pains, temptations, death, that Thou shouldst make 
So truly, wholly Thine ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 

Oh, that these tongues that love could fitly sing ; 

These hearts with praise (as Thine with anguish) break ! 
All that we have in worship would we bring 

For Thy dear glory's sake ; 

O Jesu ! sweetest Jesu ! 




44 THE WAY OF THORNS. 




THE WAY OF THORNS. 

HERE is but one true way, 

No other choice be mine ! 
Lord, every path must lead astray 
Save only Thine. 



A straight and narrow road, 
Hedged in with thorns, indeed, 

And every thorn most like a goad, 
To bid me heed. 

They wound my human pride, 
They rend my selfishness ; 

And when I seek to turn aside. 
How sharp they press ! 



THE WAY OF THORNS. 45 

On every hand I hear 

Alluring tongues of Time, 
And oft they win my outward ear, 

Like silver chime. 

They call : " That way forsake — 

A needless strife is thine ; 
A thousand paths our feet may take 

And find divine." 

But have ye seen the end ? 

I trembling answer back : 
He knoweth all, my Lord and Friend, 

Who points this track. 

Here His Apostles trod^ 

His Martyrs won their crown ; 
Here every Saint for love of God 

The world laid down. 



46 THE WAY OF THORNS. 

His own most blessed feet 
This narrow pathway wore, 

And pangs no anguish can repeat 
For us He bore. 

All sorrow, shame, and scorn, 
Death, very death, He knew ; 

From every thorn a sharper thorn 
His pity drew. 

A way of strife, indeed. 

But every step I go, 
That pity to repentance leads 

And keeps me low. 

Because the way is His, 

And victory is sure, 
And faith is more than present bliss, 

I can endure. 



A BATTLE CRY, 



47 




A BATTLE CRY. 

HOLY Cross whose sign in air 

Can put to flight our ghostly foes ! 
O Holy Name but breathed in prayer 
And Hell is powerless to oppose ! 
However fierce may be the strife, 
Immortal gain our mortal loss ; 
By ye we win Eternal Life, 

O Holy Name ! O Holy Cross ! 



And what are these our sharpest wounds ! 

Thy wounds, O Lord, their balm supply ! 
Our woes Thy woe unmeasured drowns. 

And Thine shall be our victory ! 



48 A BATTLE CRY. 

O priceless faith that dares the strife ! 

O deathless hope that spurns the loss ! 
By ye we win Eternal Life, 

O Holy Name ! O Holy Cross ! 




HOLY MYSTERIES, 



49 



HOLY MYSTERIES. 




OW can it be ! — the sweet New Birth 
Of Water and the Spirit wrought, 
Beyond the wisdom of the earth 
To understand or bring to naught ! 
We know not how ; 
We only bow 

And say : Amen ! 



How can it be ! — the Holy Ghost — 
His sevenfold gifts on men bestows 

Through laying on of hands that boast 
No power the mystery to disclose ! 

We know not how, etc. 



so HOLY MYSTERIES. 

How can it be ! — the priestly prayer 
Of consecration duly said, 

And we the One Oblation share 
And feed upon the Living Bread ! 

We know not how^ etc. 

How can it be ! — the Precious Blood 
Once shed for man doth never fail, 

But flows a sacramental flood 
That contrite sinners shall avail ! 

We know not how, etc. 



How can it be ! — from age to age 
Since the great day of Pentecost 

The Church abides, though heathen rage, 
The grace of Orders never lost ! 

We know not how, etc. 



How can it be ! — goes forth the word 
Of Holy Church and twain are one ; 



HOL Y M YSTERIES. 5 1 

Type of her union with her Lord 
Foreshadowed when the race begun ! 
We know not how^ etc. 

How can it be ! — that wine and bread 
In death's dark hour shall life afford, 
Till with His unveiled Presence fed, 
We are forever with the Lord ! 

We know not how ; 
We only bow 

And say : Amen ! 



^^ 






52 ''HIM THAT COMETH TO ME 




HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN 
NO WISE CAST OUT." 



ERE, weary heart, at last thy wanderings cease, 
Thy long, sad quest ; 
Nowhere beside is hope \ nowhere is peace ; 
Nowhere is rest. 



Oh, slow to come to Him who called and called, 

With proffers sweet ! 
While pride withheld thee, and thy sin appalled, 

He did entreat. 

What is thy shame, however great thy shame 

When thou dost think 
That knowing all He loved thee all the same ; 

How couldst thou shrink ! 



/ WILL LV NO WISE CAST OUT:' 53 

How couldst thou fear ! as if He could reject 

Who came to save ! 
To give thee, spite of guilt and long neglect, 

What thou didst crave ! — 

The sense of pardon filling all the soul 

Washed clean at last ; 
The grace that follows with its sweet control ; 

The shame o'erpast ! 

To win thee sorrowing to His glad embrace 

How hath He striven ! 
Oh, hear His Voice ! — couldst thou but see His Face ! — 

T/iou art forgiven ! 




54 A NIGHT OF FAITH, 



A NIGHT OF FAITH. 



^^Ml ARK, utter dark ; no faintest ray- 
To light the way, 
Of sunset-gleam or coming day ! 



The vision aches with lack of sight, 



For depth and height 



Are one vast blank of baffling night. 



Oh, that the soul might be at rest ; 
Might yield her quest, 
With the sole thought of God possessed ! 

That she might close her wearied eyes 

And blindfold-wise 
Walk on as under shining skies — 



A NIGHT OF FAITH. 55 

As seeing Him who is unseen — 

And wait serene 
Though twofold night should intervene ! 

O touch of God ! O miracle, 

That none may tell ! 
Her eyes are closed, and all is well I 

Though twofold night doth round her press, 

She knows no less 
He will not leave her comfortless ! 

The desolate Cry on Calvary's height, 

Its midday night. 
Her pledges are of coming light. 



S^ 



56 ''LORD, THAT I MIGHT 



LORD, THAT I MIGHT RECEIVE MY 
SIGHT." 



^^^rHAT I may see my heart of sin, 
fefi O Jesus, turn mine eyes witliin ! 
Yet ere its guilty depths be shown, 
O Jesus, turn away Thine own ! 



With Thee, All-holy, could I bear, 
The knowledge of those depths to share ? 
Should I not perish in my shame. 
Thy gaze a swift-consuming flame ? 

Yet now that I would look alone 
Mine eyes are blind as eyes of stone ; 
Now hast Thou turned away indeed. 
For Thou art Light — ray only need ! 



RECEIVE MY SIGHT:' 57 

Have mercy, Jesus ! Jesus, hear ! 
Oh, worse this blindness than my fear ! 
Have mercy, Jesus ! make me see. 
And I will look and look with 'Hiee ! 




58 A HYMN OF CONTRITION. 




A HYMN OF CONTRITION. 

INCE for Thy lips were mingled, O my Lord, 
The vinegar and gall, 
Should I not say, Earth's sweet things be ab- 
horred, 
And sweet earth's bitter call ! 



Since Thou for me the cup of death didst drain 
Yea, O my Lord, for me ! — 

My cup of ills should I not take as fain 

To share one draught with Thee ? 

O Victor-Victim, though the flesh afraid 
Sink trembling at Thy feet, 

Cast over it Thy pity's awful shade 
And hear me Thee entreat ! 



A HYMN OF CONTRITION. 59 

Make Thou these tears of penitence and shame 

For sin and frailties all, 
More sharp than vinegar, more hot than flame, 

And bitterer than gall. 

Then, Lord, in every draught wilt thou distil 

Thine own exceeding peace. 
To sweeten all the cup earth's sorrows fill, 

Till earth and sorrow cease. 




6o JESUS, MY REFUGE. 




JESUS, MY REFUGE. 

ESUS, my Refuge ! to the secret places 

Where thou dost hide, I flee, 
To learn Thy blessed Truth, from all the mazes 
Of human thought set free. 



Without denial and without refraining 

I must receive Tby Word ; 
Not what thou meanest after man's explaining, 

But what Thou sayest, Lord ! 

Shut from the strife of tongues that yield confusion, 

Quick grows the inw^ard ear 
Thy sweet assurance, stripped of all delusion, 

In humble faith to hear. 



y^ESC/S, MY REFUGE. 6l 

In mysteries beyond the dim perceiving 

Of Reason's clouded eyes, 
Thou dost reveal Thyself to souls believing — 

Too loving for disguise. 

And oh, how loving, dearest Lord, how tender 

Beyond all love Thou art, 
When to Thy Feet we cling in full surrender, 

With sorrow-broken heart ! 

Absolving, healing, strengthening, uniting, 

Through sacramental grace. 
And to communion closer yet inviting. 

Thou dost unveil Thy Face. 



For Faith alone, low-kneeling in contrition, 
The load of sin grows light ; 

To Faith alone Thou dost vouchsafe that Vision, 
And faith is almost sight. 



62 THE BLESSED TASK, 



THE BLESSED TASK. 



^*%^0\ SAID : Sweet Master, hear me prav ; 
■r^x^N) Yqx love of Thee the boon I ask ; 



Give me to do for Thee each clay 
Some simple, lowl}^ blessed task. 
And listening long with hope elate, 
I only heard Him whisper. Wait ! 

The days went by, but nothing brought 
Beyond the wonted round of care, 

And I was vext with anxious thought. 
And found the waiting hard to bear; 

But when I sighed, In vain I pray, 
I heard Him answer gently, Nay ! 



THE BLESSED TASK. 6^ 

So praying still, and waiting on, 

And pondering what the waiting meant, 

Thi^ knowledge sweet at last I won — 
And oh, the depth of my content ! — 

My blessed task for every day 
Is humbly, gladly to obey. 

And though I daily, hourly fail 

To bring my task to Him complete, 

And must with constant tears bewail 
My failures at my Master's feet^ 

No other service would I ask 
Than this my blessed, blessed task ! 




64 THE LIGHT OF LIGHT. 




THE LIGHT OF LIGHT. 

HE morning breaks, the shadows flee, 

The gracious skies are clear and bright ; 
O Light of Light, we turn to Thee ; 
Without Thy rays it still were night. 



The midday sun may cloudless shine. 
And all our way seem smooth and fair; 

There are no rays save only Thine 
Can show the quicksand or the snare. 

And when the storms of sorrow beat. 
And darkness falls, and joy takes flight, 

Thy Presence is a sure retreat, 
And in our dwelling there is light. 



THE LIGHT OF LIGHT 65 

O Jesus, Fount of joy and grace, 
That light on all our darkness pour, 

Until beyond these nights and days 
We dwell in Light forevermore ! 



T' 



66 



VALE. 



VALE. 




OOD-NIGHT, O Earth ! the nights are growin| 
long ; 
The days are brief; 
Life hath one solemn burden for its song: 
"As fades the leaf." 



Good-night, poor World ! if thou art full of sin, 

Why, so am I ! 
In this proud heart to judge would I begin, 

Nor self pass by. 



Good-night, my foe ! not all the wrong is thine ; 

My share I own ; 
Forgive! — we, human, know one word Divine ! — 

The sun goes down. 



VALE. 67 

Good- night, good friend ! though poor my gifts to thee, 

I will not fret ; 
The richer thou whose bounty is so free, 

And sweet my debt. 

No longer to revenge nor to repay 

I strive or seek ; 
Empty I came — must empty go away, 

Empty and weak. 

As one who wakes no more to smile or weep 

Another day, 
So would I lay me humbly down to sleep, 

And humbly say : 

O Thou Who hadst not where to lay Thy Head, 

As poor were I, 
Did not Thy mercy make for me a bed 

Whereon to die. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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